Top 5 best bars in… Copenhagen

As the world’s restaurant capital, Copenhagen’s culinary success is quite literally raising the bar in the booze world, finds BarChick.

BarChick counts down the top 5 best bars in Copenhagen

People go to Copenhagen to eat the crazy concoctions that require a molecular chemistry degree to create. The city has become synonymous with culinary greatness thanks to its star attraction, the two Michelin-starred Noma, voted the best restaurant in the world three years running. In 2013, the city boasted a total of 15 Michelin stars and its Nordic cuisine has influenced chefs the world over. But all this focus on the epicurean delights has naturally brought attention to the city’s bar culture, which is experiencing a booze boom of its very own.

There has been a steady influx of gastronomic tourists to the city looking to eat and drink well, and dozens of new bars have opened up to cater for this demand. These tourists are dream customers with a developed palate and disposable income earmarked for taste-based experiences. Just as Noma and other Michelin-starred establishments have raised standards in Copenhagen’s restaurant world, people also expect more from their drinks.

“I think there is a lot more pressure on the regular bar now,” says Carl Wrangel, bartender and owner of popular “cocktail pub, The Barking Dog. “Foodies seem to know a lot about cocktails, which has given bartenders the fire they need to get better. Without the food scene, I’m not sure guests would have acquired such a demanding palate. It should be said, bartenders have been struggling for some time to get people to understand quality drinking.”

The restaurant world has not only brought in a more discerning footfall, it has also inspired cocktail trends. Following in the steps of Noma’s dedication to the seasonal, artisan and local, the city’s bartenders are turning to the country’s array of homegrown produce, as well as Danish heritage, for inspiration. Traditional flavoured spirit Akvavit, produced since the 15th century, has made a comeback, and unusual ingredients like buckthorn, liquorice and horseradish are appearing on cocktail menus across the city, from brooding and sophisticated newcomer Duck & Cover to popular garden bar Fugu.

“Bars have been affected by the development in the culinary scene,” Morten Raun, bar manager of the stunning three-storey Lidkoeb, explains. “This has led to bartenders thinking local, using ingredients in season and working with the more delicate flavours that our Nordic terroir has to offer.” It’s concepts like Nordic terroir that are new to Copenhagen’s cocktail world, and are making such an impact on the flavours currently en vogue.

Paul Muldowney, owner of The Union, has had an even more direct influence from Noma. “The guys from Noma drink at The Union every weekend. They bring us weird ingredients to mess around with like sap from a birch tree that has been struck by lightning,” he says, though he identifies the limitations of culinary techniques in bar culture. “We’ve always used herbs, spices and seasonal ingredients, but I also think there is danger with experimentation and artisan methods becoming at the expense of what the customer wants at 3am when there are girls dancing on the bar.”

Part of the change in Copenhagen’s bar culture in recent years is thanks to the high average disposable income in Denmark; unlike in other cities across Europe people can still afford a night out. With spirits cheaper in Copenhagen than other Nordic countries, many bartenders travel here to learn the trade, and the trends dominating the scene here soon spread throughout Scandinavia, bringing up the entire cocktail scene. It is yet to rival its southern European counterparts, but it’s quickly catching up.

Flick through the next few pages to discover the best bars in Copenhagen.

For more global bar recommendations, visit BarChick.

Ruby

Nybrogade 10, 1203 København K, rby.dk

A Mecca for bartenders, Ruby frequently features on “Best Bars in the World” lists, and rightfully so. Located in an 18th century townhouse with Chesterfield sofas, chandeliers, art on the walls and an upper class bohemian vibe, it feels like you’re drinking in your artistically inclined friend’s swanky apartment. One of the pioneers of Copenhagen’s cocktail revival, it remains in the lead with its seasonal cocktails and homemade elixirs.

Lidkoeb

Vesterbrogade 72B, 1620 København V, lidkoeb.dk

Located in an 18th century apothecary building, one of the oldest houses in Vesterbro, Lidkoeb has three floors, each more impressive than the last from the elegant yet cosy ground floor bar with open fire and fur rugs to the top floor seating-only whisky tasting bar with its rare bottles glowing like gold in antique apothecary cabinets. Opened by the same people behind Ruby, this is the city’s latest hotspot with the lengthy queues to prove it.

K Bar

Ved Stranden 20, 1061 København K, k-bar.dk

This is a chic and grown up canal-side cocktail bar, with one of the city’s leading mixologists at the helm, Kirsten Holm. With incredibly fresh produce, she has created a list of expertly crafted cocktails, with an interesting fusion slant. One of the first serious cocktail bars in the city, it’s stylish, intimate and relaxed, with soft lighting and an outdoor terrace for the summer months.

The Barking Dog

Sankt Hans Gade 19, 2200 Nørrebro København, thebarkingdog.dk

This so-called cocktail pub takes cocktail culture away from its sometimes elitist associations, by creating the kind of chilled out space you could have as a regular after work watering hole with regular prices to match. In line with the Mexican vibe of the décor, self-proclaimed “Dogkeeper” Carl Wrangel has a serious thing for mezcal.

The Union

Store Strandstræde 16, 1255 København K, theunionbar.dk

Hidden down a quiet cobbled street, it’s easy to miss. Knock on no.16 and charm your way past the doorman into this dark den of inequity and decadence. Expect rocking old school tunes, dancing girls on the bar and faultless cocktails in this Prohibition-style speakeasy, all lorded over by English mad man Paul Muldowney, who’s in it for the good times. There’s an even more secret bar upstairs, The Bureau, which is where you want to be.